Method op knitting full-fashioned hosiery toe



Nov. 15-, 1938. H. w. ROESENER 2,136,393

METHQi) OF KNITTING FULL-FASHIONED HOSIERY TOE Original Filed Nov. 50, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15,1938

2,136,893 mzrnonor xm'rnNoFULt-msmoninn;

nosmay 'ron" f mm w. mm, Philadelphia, 1 Merchnntville Hosiery Company,-,Merchant ville,-l

Pa, assignorto 1 original applications November so, 1936, strai- I No. 113,416,

and Scptember 4, 1937," Serial No.

162,436. Divided and, this application June-4; 1938,SerialNo.'213,601 q u acacia. o1. 6 129) The present invention relates to hosiery made on full-fashioned. knitting machines and, more particularly, to a method'of knitting the toe fabric ora full-fashioned stockingof the typeshown and described in my co-pending application, Se-

rial Number 113,416,!lled November 30,1936, and manufactured on. the machine described 1 in my co-pending application, Serial: Number 162,436,

, method of knitting the toe section of full-fashioned hosiery, whereby the toe may be made with 1 filed September, 4, 1937, the present application being a division of said co-pending applications. The invention primarily .aims to provide a the commonly knownand used legger equipment, that is, without necessitating the use ofthe com- ;p1icated, involved narrowing and transferring mechanism of a: footer machine.

, Asis generally known in theart, the'foot narrowings are such that fournarrowing combs are required for eachnarrowing section of: the machine, two large combs and two small combs. The large combs are used on the outer edge portions of the fabric to narrow and shape the samepwhile the small combs :act oncthe intermediate portions, the associated combs being: relatively operated through the double action of the narrowingmechanism oi a footer to form the so-called toe gores and diamond points which heretofore have been deemed necessa y to properly fashion the toe.

The present invention, has for one of its, main objects the provisionof a method wherebya fullfashioned hosiery toe; fabric, may be properly shaped by means of an improvednarrowingcomb arrangement, permittingthe knitting of the foot on a legger which, as well known, is of greatly {simplified structure in comparison with the footer a toe patch reinforced to a much greater extent machine.

Another object of the invention resides in the f provision of a method capable of producing a toe construction embodying a plurality offabrics knitted from yarnsreinforced to different degrees and separated by interposed fabric panels preferably, althoughnot necessarily, knitted from an unreinforced, relatively light body yarn, whereby it is possible to incorporate in the hosiery toe tha'nis practically possible in ordinary full-fashioned hosiery now on the market, thereby im parting anincreased wearing quallty to the hosiery toe sectionl 1 X Other important objects and advantages of the invention willbe in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

'In order that the invention and itsmodeoi' operation may be readily understood by persons trating a slightly modified method of the laying and feeding oftheyarns for, knitting the -toe fabric ,inaccordance with the invention.

.A--A and B-B, consists of a pairof side fabrics I skilled in the art, 1 have,in theaccompanying drawings and in" the detailed description based thereupon, set out a possible embodiment of the invention. r

i In these drawings: l

Figure 1 illustrates a "finished stocking constructed in accordance with the invention.

. Figure 2 shows a portionoi thefoot including the toe section or the stocking blank.

Figure 3 is a greatly"enlarged diagrammatic' representationshowin'g the'knitted structure of a-fashioned portion of the the section.

Figurefi4 diagrammaticallyillustrates themethd of making the stocking toe section inaccordance with the presentinvention.

, .:Figure5 is a diagrammatic view "of the toe sec- ,tion in which thecourses are designated by hori- I zontal lines; the waleszby vertical lines; the narrowings by crosses; and the loops by dots. Figure, 6 is a view similarto Figure 4; illus- Having more particular reference to the draw-' ings, wherein like. characterswof referencei will designate corresponding parts throughout, I have ,shown in Figure 1 a,full-fashionedstockingI which comprises the welt 2, the leg portion 3, and the foot portion 4, including thehel 5, sole 6,

and toe l. The weltl, leg 3, and foot 4 with: its

heel 5 andv sole 6 are of the usual construction and, therefore, need not be described herein.

As previously stated, this invention: has'jto do with improvements in the construction and'meth- 0d ;of. knittingthe. toe section W, whichwill now bedescribed in detail.

In the drawings, particularlyFigure 2, it will appear that the toe section 'l,"thatis, the portion of the blank. represented betweenthe lines 40 and 9 respectively, and anintermediate fabric or toe patch l0,'said fabrics 8,9, and in being de fined by, the fashioning lines I l extending walewise of the toe fabric for the majorportion of their length, that is to say, the fashioning lines H extend walewise otthe fabric tothe point indicated by thedotted .line C-C.

From the point indicated by the dotted line CC to the,tip 12 of the blank, the fashioning lines I l are taperedinwardly of the 'fabricin the manner represented at l3. It will be notedfrorn Figures 3, 4,;and 5, that the side, fabrics 8 and! and intermediate fabric J 0 have a reinforced construction, the intermediate fabric lfl being reinforced to a greater degree than the side:

forced side fabrics I and I, thereby imparting a certain degree of elasticity to the fabric, allowing the toe section to readily adjust itselfto the fabrics I and I, the latter preferably being of ordinary reinforcement.

Disposed adjacent to, and paralleling, each fashioning line ii are wales II knitted from relatively light body yarn, said wales constituting fabric panels II separating the 'heavy'reinforced intermediate fabric II from the ordinary reinfoot of the wearer, while permitting the provision of a greatly reinforced toe patch, which enhances the wearing ability of the toe'section.

The method of knitting the stocking having the toe construction above described will be more,

clearly understood from the showing made in Figures 3, 4, and 5. shown by these flgures,..

narrowing courses II normallyv disposed in the' side fabrics I and I. Preferably, the loops are transferred the distance of two wales, although it is to be understood that said loops may be transferredfor a greater or lesser. distance, as preference or necessity may dictate.

Whereas the loops II of the narrowing courses II are transferred inwardlyof the fabric, the remaining loops II of said courses, that is, the loops disposed in the intermediate fabric iI,- retain their original position so that pairs of narrowing marks I! are formed on the opposite sides of thefabric at apointbetween the side fabrics I and I and the intermediate fabric II. It will benotedthat the loops Iiln the intermediate section II are knitted from the body yarn i6 and a relatively heavy reinforcing yarn II, which From the foregoing description of the toe fab- ;ric construction, it will be understood that the intermediate. fabric II .is preferably reinforced to a greater degree than the side fabrics I and 9, and the intermediate fabric is separated from the side fabrics by a number of wales II of relatively light body yarn constituting the fabric DIDQJSJrC a V The mannerof laying the yarns to attain this construction is diagrammatically-shown in Figure 4, from which-it will be apparent that a set of four carriers are utilizedin the formation of the fashionedportion of the toefabric. One of the carriers}, which may be termed the main carrier, is threaded with the body yarn II and is adapted to reciprocate over, the entire width of the fabric, that is, fromselvedge edge to selvedge edge, as indicated by thearrow F.- Two of the carriers, designated by the characters II and III, and called the main reinforcing carriers, are each threaded with i separate ordinary reinforcing .yarns i1, said yarns respectively being ofv the same weight, but of axheavier weight than the body yarn II. The carrier II is disposedto remain reinforcing yarns ll. arranged to reciprocate over the intermediate called the auxiliary reinforcing carrier, is threaded with relatively greatly reinforced yarn 23, said yarn 23 being of a greater weight than the The carrier IV is fabric II, as represented by the arrow J.

With the carriers arranged in the manner aforesaid, it will be appreciated that during the initial yarn laying movement in the direction indicated by the arrow D in Figure 4, carriers I and II are moved simultaneously, thus laying their respective yarns I6 and II to form the series 'of wales' a of the corresponding side fabric I.

Upon reaching the inner marginal edge of said side fabric, the .carrier 11 is stopped while the carrier I continues its movement to lay its yarn for the formation of a limited number ofloops which constitute the corresponding set of unreinforced wales II to form one of the separating panels l5. After having laid the necessary amount of yarn to form the loops of said wales II, the carrier I proceeds to lay'its body yarn i6 over the intermediate. fabric ill. Simultaneously with the laying of 'the yarn over said intermediate fabric in by the carrier I, the auxiliary reinforcing carrier IV lays its heavy reinforcing yarn 23 over said fabric so that there .is formed a series of greatly reinforced wales loops knitted for the formation of the second set of unreinforced wales i4 constituting the other panel l5, after which the main carrierI and the 7 main reinforcing carrier'III move in unison to lay their respective yarns I6 and II for the formation of that series of '"wales ilc constituting the side fabric 9.

r. Following the laying of the yarns i6, I1, and II in the manner aforesaid, the knitting operation of the machine is accomplished in the usual well known manner and a course is formed consisting of reinforced end rows of loops made from the body yarn II and the reinforcing yarn H, a reinforced intermediate row of loops made from the body yarn i6 and the heavy reinforcing yarn 2I,'and an unreinforced row of loops made from the body yarn I6 and interposed between the intermediate row of loops and each end row of loops. Due to the mode of laying the various yarns, there are formed, as will more clearly appear from Figure 3 of the drawings, spaced selvedges 24 and 25 defining the unreinforced panels ii.

After the various 'yarns' have been laid and knitted to form one course, as described, the car- 'rier motion is momentarily disrupted and during this momentary disruption, the inward transfer of the loops in the side fabrics is performed by means of narrowing combs having the usual construction and operating in the usual way.

Subsequent to the transfer operation, the yarn laying movement of the carriers is resumed and yarns'are again laid and knitted to form the succeeding course in the same manner as above described, with the exception that the carriers travel inthe opposite direction, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow E in Figure 4.

At the completion of this latter course, however, no transfer of loops takes place so that a plain course is knitted in alternation with the narrowing courses. At this point, attention is called to the fact that one or more additional plain courses may be knitted between each narrowing course if the insertion of such additional courses is found preferable or necessary to provide the proper or required amount of fabric for the formation of the toe pocket.

It is pointed out that the layingof the separate yarns of different weights at spaced intervals during the laying of the body yarn produces a central or intermediate heavily reinforced fabric fianked by ordinary reinforced fabrics, with a panel or unreinforced fabric interposed between the heavily reinforced and each ordinary reinforced fabric. It will particularly appear from Figures 3 an 5 how the-successive transferred courses narrow the toe section in order to fashion the fabric thereof. It will be understood by those skilled in theart that the narrowing of the courses may be accomplished through the operation of the well known narrowing mechanism generally provided upon full-fashioned knitting machines now in common use, which mechanism includes automatically adjustable stops controlling the length of the reciprocating strokes of the carriers.

It will also clearly appear from Figures 3 and 5 that whereas the fabric is reduced in width, the transfer of the loops in the majorportion of the side fabrics 8 and 9 is not affected thereby, that is, the loops will be transferred repeatedly onto the same inner needles so that the transfer wardly of the fabric and, at the same time, to

. panels shorten the relative stroke of the four carriers hereinbefore referred to so that the lines of transfer marks and the rows of unreinforced loops at the opposite side portions of the toe section gradually converge to the tip I? of the blank.

Because of this constructional feature of the invention, it will be appreciated that the major portion of the wales l4 consisting of loops made from the relatively light body yarn extend on a straight line in the general longitudinal direction of the toe fabric, thus providing between the reinforced fabrics 3 and 9 and I!) well defined l5 of knitted fabric, the elasticity of which is not hindered by the reinforcemnt of the adjacent fabrics. Consequently, the preserved elasticity of the panels I 5 gives to the toe that degree of stretchability sufficient to assure its fit and adaptation to the foot of the wearer. Moreover, due to the presence in the toe fabric of wales of loops constructed from a relatively light yarn with which the transferred loops are engaged, the usual thick and conspicuous rows of overlapping transferred loops of the common toe gores are eliminated, resulting in not only improving the general appearance of the stocking, but also making it more comfortable to wear.

In Figure 6, I have shown a modified method of laying the yarns in making the toe fabric in accordance with the invention.

As illustrated in said Figure 6, three carriers are used: one carrier Ia (being the main carrier) is threaded with the body yarn; the second carrier Ib (being themain reinforcing carrier) is threaded with t1". ordinary reinforcing yarn; and the third carrier 1141 (being the auxiliary reinforcing carrier) is threaded with the relatively heavy reinforcing yarn.

During the yarn laying movement of the carriers, the carriers Ia and Ib travel throughout the entire length of the needle bar, that is, from selvage edge to selvage edge of thefabric, as indicated by the arrow F, whereas the carrier IIa travels over the intermediate portion l8 of the toe fabric, as indicated by the arrow J.

A stocking toe constructed in accordance with the latter method will accordingly have the side fabrics l8 and I1 and fabric panels I811 knitted from the body yarn and the ordinary reinforcing yarns in overlapping relation, whereas the intermediate panel IE will be constructed was the body yarn, the ordinary reinforcing yarn, plus the heavy reinforcing yarn, in order to impart to said intermediate panel the particular construction hereinbefore referred to.

It will be understood that the control of the carriers is had through the usual carrier rod stops associated with the carrier .nut control mechanism usually provided upon ordinary full fashioned knitting machines, and with which those skilled in the art are familiar.

In concluding, I wish it to be understood that whereas I have shown and described in detail the preferred embodiment of the invention, such embodiment is capable of modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, those modifications reading in the scope of the claims are considered as part of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. The method of knitting the toe section of a full-fashioned knitted stocking comprising: laying a body yarn to form a full course; laying reinforcing yarns over the body yarn at the opposite end portions of the full course, whereby to form reinforcing partial courses in overlapping relation with said end portions of the full course; laying a reinforcing yarn over the body yarn at the intermediate portion of the full course but at spaced intervals with respect to the reinforcing yarns at the end portions of said full course, whereby to form an intermediate reinforcing partial course in overlapping relation with the intermediate portion of the full course but in spaced relation to the reinforced and portions of said full course; and transferring the loops on the reinforced end portions of the course.

2. The method of knitting the toe section of a full-fashioned knitted stocking comprising: laying a body yarn to form a full course; laying reinforcing yarns simultaneously with the laying of the body yam at the opposite end portions of the full course, whereby to form reinforcing partial courses in overlapping relation with said end portions of the full course; laying a reinforcing yarn simultaneously with the laying of the body yarn at the intermediate portion of the full course but at spaced intervals with the laying of the reinforcing yarns at the end portions of said full course, whereby to form an intermediate reinforcing partial course in overlapping relation with the intermediate portion of the full course but in spaced relation to the reinforced end portions of said full course; and transferring the loops in the reinforced end portions of the course.

HARRY W. ROESENKR. 

